STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3469

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 176

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 176 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ADOPT CERTAIN PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE DAM AND APPURTENANCE IMPROVEMENT OR REMOVAL GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST APPLICANTS IN OBTAINING GRANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt certain procedures relating to the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program to assist applicants in obtaining grants.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program provides funding to owners of private dams for plans, design, construction, and equipment to improve or remove deficient dams and appurtenances, as determined by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Department). However, grant applicants are subject to the discretion and uneven application of criteria by the Department and Board of Land and Natural Resources (Board), which discourages applicants from improving these structures. Your Committee maintains that the Board and Department should clarify and communicate to the public the criteria it develops for the award of grants from the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program to assist applicants in their efforts to maintain or improve existing dam infrastructure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 176, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 176, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair